I have found my helpers

I had many replies from ladies who have more thread stash then I am sure they could use in a lifetime and I have chosen two to help me. One has an amazing personal thread stash and the other works at an LNS that I know stocks just about every thread there is, so I'm well covered.

As soon as they have conversions worked out, I will post them on my website and BB. Of course not every conversion will work for every design so if anyone needs a final opinion, I will always be available to help.

The Limited Edition Summer Pack is all dyed up and the threads ready to be wound. I will start shipping at the end of next week.

I just LOVE some of the colours in this pack and perhaps a similar thread will find it's way into the regular line at a later date.

Here is a sneak peek of the threads and fabrics. I have also designed a cute Summer book mark to go with the pack.



There are still a few packs not spoken for, so if you are interested, e-mail me.

On a personal note, my only daughter is getting married at Easter 2008. She is the only girl amongst 4 boys in our family so I am very excited. I will be making her wedding dress with Fran's help and I can't wait to get started. My daughter isn't a girly girl but has found a photo of a dress she loves and I am going to be stitching on lots of crystals and beads to make sure it is just right.

AND.... My second son and his wife are expecting a baby in February and this will make grandchild #6. I have a feeling this one will be a girl and if so, we will have 3 girls for me to spoil with lots of pretty things and 3 equally spoilt boys.

Where has this week gone?

I can't believe that it has already been a week since we left Maui. I've been so busy the days are flying by. I need to find a way to add another 12 hours to each day.

Things are falling into place and I think I will have everything done in time for Columbus. Some of the new threads are coming back from the winders and I've finally sorted out the order forms and the new ink stamps and printed out 6 months copies of The Gift of Stitching Magazine.

Oh, I don't think I have mentioned that. Kirsten, who I spent time with when I was home earlier this year, has appointed me the US distributor for her magazine, The Gift of Stitching. It is excellent value for money and keeps getting better with many recognised designers contributing beautiful designs.

Anyway, Kirsten now has subscription cards that can be sold by needlework stores and I'm going to be marketing them here in the US and hopefully selling heaps to all my customers. The idea is you buy the card from your LNS, take it home and log onto the magazine website and register by putting in the unique number you find on your card. It is also an excellent small gift to slip into a card to send to a friend. I'll be introducing them at Columbus and hope the stores can see the potential that I do.

I finally managed to be away from my laptop long enough for DH to scan the new silks for the colour card and I've decided to post a sneak peak of the 10 new colours.

The new names are: Parrot Fish, Illawong, Black Opal, Black Coral, Desert Pea, Rose Bay, Jindabyne, Shark Bay, Dandenong and Sea Grass. They will be available for your LNS to purchase either at Columbus or if they aren't attending Columbus, the week following the show.

Back to Work

I arrived back in Houston yesterday morning and slept most of the day. Today it was back to work to ensure everything is ready for the TNNA wholesale show in Columbus. I leave on May 31st as I have to teach a class that evening but the show opens on June 2nd. There was something wonderful waiting for me when I arrived home. Ginny Zimmerman is a wonderful model stitcher and has stitched several models for me but this time I had her stitching something different. I have collaborated with Leigh from Leigh Designs and Janet Perry from Napa Needlepoint to have Flamenco and Rhumba, two of Leigh's stunning hand painted canvases stitched.

Janet wrote the stitch guide which shows which Dinky-Dyes silks are used and where and which speciality stitches to use. Rhumba should be back from my other model stitcher, Linda B sometime in the next week or so.

Ginny did a fantastic job stitching Flamenco, but then I knew she would. It is hard to see the beads or speciality stitches but I think my silks look wonderful in this design. I can't wait to see Rhumba.

Toni, my 'chief' winding lady bought me back some of the new silks today. I love all the new colours and they look wonderful wound up. There are 3 new multi-coloured variegated and 7 solid colours. I am trying to bulk out the solid colours so it will be easier to work conversions from other silks and DMC and I'm trying to get to the point where there will be several different shadings in the same colour range and ensure that there will be 3 or 4 solid colours to match up with each variegated silk.